Our Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist Dr Sarah Burlinson talks about her role and helping patients in our Persistent Pain Service - listen here
Research and National Audits
Pennine MSK Partnership works with the research arm of the NHS, the National Institute for Health Research, to promote clinical research and offer our patients the opportunity to take part in ethically approved research studies.
Click to see how we support NHS Research and how you can help and get involved.
Audit and National Registers
National Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit
The National Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit has been commissioned to help understand and improve the quality of care for people with arthritis. The project collects information on people referred to rheumatology units with a possible arthritis. This is an opportunity to contribute to a national study which will shape the scope of inflammatory arthritis treatment in the future, and help improve referrals and treatment for the next generation. Pennine MSK will provide information about your care over the first 12 months after you have been diagnosed. In addition you are asked how arthritis is affecting your life. This is in the form of an online questionnaire (paper format available if preferred) three times over 12 months – when you are diagnosed, after 3 months and one year after your diagnosis. If you want to know how we use and protect your information please see the privacy policy here
View Year 4 annual report here
Here’s how we are doing so far and the changes we have made
British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register (BSRBR)
The BSRBR-RA (British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register – Rheumatoid Arthritis) is run by the Arthritis Research UK Epidemiology Unit at the University of Manchester. It tracks the progress of patients with severe Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), who are receiving biologic agents and monitors the safety and effectiveness of these treatments over a long-term period. For more information refer to the BSRBR website here
Fracture Liaison Service Database (FLS-DB) national audit
Breaking a bone after a fall is a common injury. Caring for patients with these broken bones or fractures and preventing future fractures is an important part of the work of the NHS. Pennine MSK participate in this national clinical audit which gathers information about fracture care, treatment and referrals and measures local performance against national and professional standards and provides regular feedback to health professionals. This information enables Pennine MSK and our partners to review their performance against national standards and focus on areas where they can make improvements to patient care.
The aim of this audit is to improve the care of patients who are at risk of a fragility fracture or osteoporosis. A ‘fragility’ fracture is a broken bone that happens after a fall from a standing height or less. Fragility fractures often affect the larger bones of the body such as the back, hip or wrist. Bones are strong and usually don’t break from a simple fall, but as we get older our bones become weaker. Osteoporosis and other bone diseases can increase this effect of age, and further weaken bones. This means that even a low-impact fall from a standing height can cause a broken bone. Patients who have suffered a fragility fracture are at higher risk of breaking another bone; either the same bone again or another bone in the body. Fracture liaison services (FLSs) are teams of nurses, doctors, therapists and administrative staff who treat people (usually aged 50 and over) with fractures to reduce the chance of experiencing another broken bone.
Being part of the FLS-DB does not mean that you will be given different care or have your treatment options limited. The FLS-DB will just collect the details of what type of care you receive in order to understand how the FLS in your area identifies patients, investigates their individual circumstances, provides information to you and refers you to treatment if necessary. By collecting this information the FLS-DB can help the NHS understand how care is being implemented across the country and make sure that all patients are getting the best possible care.
If you want to know how we use and protect your information please click here see the fair processing statement.
Fracture Liaison Service Database (FLS-DB) fair processing statement - FFFAP
months or years after your first fracture. You might have moved house, or you might be on holiday in a different area of the country. Collecting this information allows us to link to other national data sets which provide further
Research
BIOmarker-guided Treatment decisions In Rheumatoid Arthritis:
A Feasibility Study
IRAS ID 234848
Do you have rheumatoid arthritis? Are you about to start adalimumab or certolizumab treatment? If so, you could be eligible to take part in BIOTIPRA.
If you agree to take part in the study, you will be asked to:
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Attend 1 to 4 visits at the outpatient department (between 30 min to 1 hour each time)
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Provide a blood sample (3 tubes of blood)
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Complete the questionnaires a participant questionnaire booklet. These can be taken home for completion (or sent to you at home, if you prefer) and returned to the study team in a pre-paid envelope.
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At the end of the study you will be asked to complete a study feedback form, which will be posted to you along with a pre-paid envelope.